Alaska § 26.23.150 - Disaster prevention.

§ 26.23.150. Disaster prevention.

 (a) In addition to disaster prevention measures as included in the state, local, and interjurisdictional disaster plans, the governor shall consider, on a continuing basis, steps that could be taken to prevent or reduce the harmful consequences of disasters. At the governor's direction, and under any other authority and competence they have, state agencies, including but not limited to those charged with responsibilities in connection with flood plain management, stream encroachment and flow regulation, weather modification, fire prevention and control, environmental quality, public works, land use and land use planning, and construction standards, shall make studies of disaster-prevention-related matters. The governor, from time to time, shall make recommendations to the legislature, local governments, and other appropriate public and private entities as may facilitate measures for the prevention or reduction of the harmful consequences of disasters.

 (b) Appropriate departments, in conjunction with the Alaska division of homeland security and emergency management, shall keep land uses and location of structures and other facilities under continuing study, and identify areas that are particularly susceptible to severe land shifting, subsidence, flood, or other catastrophic occurrence. The studies under this subsection shall concentrate on means of reducing or avoiding the dangers caused by this occurrence or the consequences of it.

 (c) If the Alaska division of homeland security and emergency management believes, on the basis of the studies or other competent evidence and after consultation with the appropriate local planning agencies, that an area is susceptible to a disaster of catastrophic proportions without adequate warning, that existing building standards and land use controls in that area are inadequate and could add substantially to the magnitude of the disaster, and that changes in zoning regulations, other land use regulations, or building requirements are essential in order to further the purposes of this section, it shall specify the essential changes to the governor.